Latest news with #impersonation
Irish Times
14 hours ago
- Irish Times
Former garda jailed for seven years for inciting men to rape colleague
A former garda who impersonated a colleague online and incited men to come to her home and rape her has been jailed for seven years. Shane Flanagan (39), with an address in Co Clare, impersonated the woman on a fetish website and on Facebook and engaged in graphic online discussions with users of these sites about sexual violence, rape, cannibalism, torture and physical violence. He also shared the woman's personal information including her address, photos of her and her daughters and screenshots from the Strava app which showed her running route. Flanagan pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting two men to rape the woman on dates between November and December 2020. He further pleaded guilty to six counts of endangering the woman and her daughters between 2018 and 2020, and to one count of possession of four images of child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, on January 7th, 2021. He has no previous convictions. Imposing sentence at the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon said Flanagan's offending showed a 'breathtaking disregard' for the safety of the injured parties and that he would have been 'more alive to these dangers' due to his background as a garda. She imposed a sentence of eight years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years. More to follow ...
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Fake nurse convicted of fraud now in jail after surety revoked bail
Hailey Roberts, 33, convicted of fraud for impersonating a licensed nurse to work in seniors' homes is in jail. (Supplied) A Tiny Township, Ont. woman who was convicted of fraud for impersonating a licensed nurse to work in seniors' homes is in jail. Hailey Roberts, 33, appeared in a Barrie bail court Monday afternoon, days after a surety revoked her bail. Roberts was arrested and taken into custody as she seeks her release one month after pleading guilty to fraud and assault charges that included forging documents and posing as a nurse for four years in long-term care homes across Elmvale, Midland and Stayner. In an Agreed Statement of Facts during her Barrie plea in June, Roberts admitted to lying about her qualifications and submitting forged documents to obtain jobs. She made more than $118,000 during the pandemic until her deception was uncovered late last year, leading to criminal charges. Roberts who had been out on bail since her arrest was taken back into custody late last week and appeared in bail court as she awaits her sentencing hearing. Hailey Roberts, Hailey Roberts, of Tiny Township, Ont., faces charges for allegedly falsifying documents to work as a nurse in Simcoe County between 2020 and 2024. Roberts, according to those who know her, once faked brain cancer years ago and admitted to telling employers she was certified to work in long-term care homes as a nurse and falsely claimed she had upgraded her certification from a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) to Registered Nurse (RN) status. Roberts was convicted on nine counts including fraud and assault. The charges included using forged documents, fraud under false pretenses, impersonation for financial gain, and assaulting seniors by illegally administering medicine and vaccines to 58 residents in seniors' homes. At least two men told CTV News Roberts pretended to be pregnant and forged their signatures before stealing thousands of dollars from their bank accounts. Roberts is scheduled to return to court tomorrow from jail awaiting a bail bed with the Salvation Army bail program. A publication prevents any evidence heard in court Monday from being released.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Impersonation scam targeting more than 200 million Americans
It may look like a harmless message from someone you know, until your bank account vanishes and your identity is gone. A fast-growing impersonation scam is targeting more than 200 million people, using hijacked Facebook accounts. The fraud often starts with a simple message, 'How are you doing today?', which appears to come from someone you know but is actually from a criminal who has taken over their account. Hackers are using those stolen profiles to message friends and relatives, pretending to offer government grants, giveaways, or discounted items like trucks and hot tubs. Cybersecurity experts said these scams are hard to detect because they use real people's names and photos, making it seem trustworthy, and in many cases, victims do not realize it is fake until it is too late. The scam often relies on phishing , fake emails or messages that look real and claim the user's account has been compromised. Victims are told to reset their passwords using a link, but that link leads to a fake website that steals their login info. Experts warned that once they gain control, scammers send fake offers. One of the most common is a promise of a $150,000 government grant, and they told the victim that they must pay a $2,500 processing fee to receive it. Some scammers also created fake product listings and posted staged photos of cash or boxes to make the offers seem real. His friend said she had already received her payout and gave him the contact info for an agent named David Kelvin. Jim was told he qualified for $150,000 but needed to pay $2,500 to process the request. The agent even sent a photo of a FedEx box supposedly filled with cash. When Jim delayed, the scammer deleted the chat messages. He said one of the early warning signs was the grammar. Words like 'informations' tipped him off. 'That's when I started to doubt the story,' Jim said. Another victim, Lesa Lowery from New Brunswick, was locked out of her Facebook account after clicking a fake email that appeared to be from Facebook security. The message told her to reset her password. She entered both her old and new passwords, unknowingly handing full access to scammers. Lesa could see the public posts but was locked out of private messages. 'I just felt helpless,' she told CBC's Go Public . 'I literally sat there and cried.' A recent blog reported that phishing kits, like RaccoonO365, are now available as services and scammers can now steal login credentials and even bypass two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication is supposed to add an extra layer of protection for your private online accounts, typically by sending an access code to the legitimate user's phone or email. To stay safe, cybersecurity experts recommend always using strong, unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and never clicking on links in emails or messages unless you are sure they are real. They advised using antivirus software, monitoring identity, and considering deleting the personal info from people search sites. The Federal Trade Commission says no real government grant program charges fees to give you money. Anyone claiming to be from Facebook or the FTC who asks for login codes, passwords, or payments is running a scam.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tradie loses $449,000 in an instant after missing key detail: '25 years of savings gone'
An Australian man is searching for answers after he unknowingly transferred 25 years' worth of his savings to a scammer. Mechanic Jimmy wanted to buy a home for his parents and was all set to make this dream come true. He even visited his Commonwealth Bank (CBA) branch in person to transfer the $449,000 to his conveyancer because he thought that would add a layer of protection against being scammed. However, he didn't realise the details he gave to the bank worker were fraudulent. "I wanted something that I could sort of call home in my mum's and dad's later years, in our later years, and still be close to the kids," he told A Current Affair. RELATED Commonwealth Bank's fresh alert for millions over mass text messages The top 10 highest salaries in Australia paying up to $700,000 Rare 5 cent coin worth 25,000 times its value Jimmy located this dream home in Lake Illawarra, south of Sydney, and it was set to cost him $1.1 million. When it came time to make the transfer for the deposit, a scammer had weaselled their way into the back-and-forth emails between the mechanic and Active Property Conveyancing. This is what's called an impersonation scam, and it cost Aussies $181 million last year alone. The consumer watchdog said scammers usually target businesses like conveyancers, real estate agencies, and car dealerships because of the big sums of money involved. Instead of the conveyancer sending over the correct bank details, the hacker hijacked the communications and sent over their bank thought everything was above board when he eventually went into the branch to send nearly half a million dollars. "[The bank teller] goes, 'Just tell me who you want me to pay'. And I said to her, 'I suppose you better do what the email says'. They've just got the paperwork. They've entered it all in. And we left, and that was it," he recalled. It took six days after the transfer for Jimmy to discover what had actually happened. "Our 25 years of life savings gone just like that," he added. CBA tried to retrieve the huge sum of money, however, it had been siphoned off in smaller chunks to other bank accounts two days after Jimmy's transfer. Mechanic blames bank, conveyancer - but they point out huge issue The mechanic is furious at what happened and is pointing the blame at Active Property Conveyancing, as well as CBA for letting him send off the money. "If your system was compromised and they've stolen my information and sent me an email, how's that my fault?" he said. Active Property Conveyancing said its systems were secure and the scam emails were sent from a Hotmail address and not one from their domain. The business also added there was a very specific disclaimer in the email with the fraudulent bank details that he "unfortunately" didn't follow. "Due to increased reports of emails between clients and conveyancers, we request that you DO NOT act on any communication asking you to transfer or deposit funds without first contacting us by telephone... to confirm the authenticity of the request," the disclaimer read. CBA said it takes these matters "very seriously" but added that Jimmy was asked seven scam-related questions before the transfer was authorised. One of those questions was whether he had confirmed the legitimacy of the details of the person he was sending the money to. Because he missed these key details, insurance won't cover him. Jimmy tried to take the issue to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, but AFCA ruled in favour of the in to access your portfolio
Fox News
6 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
New Facebook scam starts with messages from a friend
Ever get a Facebook message from an old friend, only to find out it wasn't really that friend? That's exactly how a recent Facebook impersonation scam almost cost someone $2,500. A scammer hijacked a woman's account and used it to promote a fake $150,000 grant to her friends. One man came dangerously close to falling for it. We'll break down how the scam unfolded and, more importantly, how you can protect yourself from this growing threat. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Jim, a retired tech industry veteran, received a message on Facebook from his longtime friend, Lynda. The message started casually, "How are you doing today, Jim?" But it quickly shifted into a suspicious sales pitch for a government-backed grant. Lynda claimed she had received $150,000 from an organization called "Global Empowerment" and encouraged Jim to apply through an agent named David Kelvin. Although Jim was intrigued, he remained cautious. As their conversation progressed, he sensed something was off. The agent, "David Kelvin," messaged Jim with vague promises of funding and quick delivery. He claimed there were no qualifications, and all Jim had to do was send his full name, address and $2,500 for "approval and shipping." The scammers even sent a photo of a FedEx box supposedly filled with cash. Jim questioned how someone could walk into a bank and deposit $150,000 in cash without issue. "You don't just do that," he noted. Despite his growing suspicion, Jim continued the conversation to better understand the scam tactics. Below is a cleaned-up excerpt from the real Facebook conversation Jim had with the impersonator. This transcript not only shows how these scams work, but also highlights how subtle the manipulation can be. Lynda: How are you doing today, Jim?Jim: I'm well. How are you and Ken?Lynda: Good! I hope you've heard my good news?Jim: No... Are you pregnant? What's the news?Lynda: It's about Global Empowerment. They're giving out $150,000 in support funds. I received mine already. Are you aware of the program?Jim: No, but I'd like to be. Can you send the info? Milena and I will be in the U.S. soon, and we're interested in Yes, you can. Here's the agent's email: [email]. And this is his Facebook profile: [link].Jim: Great, I'll message him. Should I use your name?Lynda: Yes. Use Facebook Messenger—it's faster. Just say a friend told you about the funds. Jim (to David): Hi David, my wife and I heard about your project through a friend. She said it's for caregivers. I'm interested. Looking forward to hearing from you. Later, Jim forwarded a message he received from "David" back to "Lynda."Jim: Is this taxable, by the way?Jim (forwarding message from David): "YOU ARE HIGHLY WELCOME TO THE GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT FUNDS APPLICATION BOARD PROGRAM. GIVE ME YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS."Jim (to Lynda): I sent him my info. Still waiting to hear more. Jim then received another reply from "David."Jim (forwarding): "Congratulations! You qualify for the funds."Lynda: That's amazing! Tell him you're ready. I hope it's a joint What's next?Lynda: Just follow his Did you give him any banking info?Lynda: No, they didn't ask for that. Jim (forwarding): "PLEASE HOLD ON WHILE WE PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION."Lynda: I'm so happy for you, Jim!Jim: How long did it take for you to get the money?Lynda: Just a day after approval. It came in a box via How much did you pay?Lynda: $2,500 for approval and shipping. I deposited the money into my account right Are you sure this is legit?Lynda: 100% real. Trust me. I'll show you my bank statement. At this point, Jim began noticing red flags in the scammers' "Informations"? [That's not a real word. This raised a red flag.]Lynda: Don't worry. It's not a scam. I promise. Recognizing Facebook impersonation scam red flags is crucial for protecting yourself online. Jim noticed several warning signs that exposed the scam: When Jim delayed by saying he would finish the process after traveling, the scammers began deleting their messages. This suspicious behavior confirmed his doubts about the Facebook impersonation scam. This Facebook impersonation scam follows a pattern: 1. Hijack a trusted friend's account: Scammers gain access to a real Facebook account, often through phishing or weak passwords, so their messages appear to come from someone you know and trust. 2. Build rapport by mimicking a casual conversation: The scammer starts with a friendly, familiar greeting-like "How are you doing today?" to lower your guard and make the interaction feel genuine. 3. Pitch a fake financial windfall (in this case, a $150K grant): Once trust is established, the imposter introduces an enticing offer, such as a government-backed grant or prize, claiming they have already received the money themselves. 4. Request a large upfront fee for "processing" or "delivery": To move forward, the scammer asks for personal details and a significant payment — $2,500 in Jim's case — framed as a necessary step for approval or shipping. 5. Use fake photos, urgency and emotional pressure to convince the victim: They may send doctored images (like a FedEx box of cash) and apply pressure with urgent language or emotional appeals, insisting the opportunity is real and time-sensitive. While Jim recognized the scam in time, he worried that others, especially older adults, might fall for it. "The safe days on the internet are over," he said. "It's a jungle out there, and most folks are not equipped to play safety on that playground." Facebook impersonation scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but following a few essential steps can help you safeguard your identity and keep your personal information secure. Call or text them directly if something feels off, even if the message seems casual or harmless. Weak or reused passwords make it easier for scammers to break into your accounts, especially if your login credentials have been exposed in a past data breach. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords for each account and enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Get more details about my best expert-reviewed Password Managers of 2025 at Bad grammar, vague responses, pressure tactics and unrealistic promises are common in impersonation scams. If something feels off, it probably is. Protect your devices from malware and phishing links that steal login credentials. The best way to safeguard yourself is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Once your personal data is compromised, scammers can open accounts, reroute your mail or impersonate you online. Identity theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number, phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at No legitimate grant or prize requires upfront payment. That's always a scam. If you've been targeted or suspect a friend's account has been hacked, take action right away. Report fake or compromised Facebook accounts to Meta and also report fraud and scams to the FTC. Scammers often gather personal information from people search and data broker websites to make their Facebook impersonation attempts more convincing and to target victims more effectively. These sites can expose your name, address, phone number and even relatives, giving criminals the details they need to impersonate you or your friends online, as seen in the Facebook impersonation scam described in this article. By actively removing your information from these sites, you make it much harder for scammers to find and use your data against you. This process usually involves searching for your exposed profiles, submitting opt-out requests to each site and monitoring for republished information. While no service can guarantee complete removal, using a reputable data removal service or following step-by-step opt-out guides significantly lowers your risk of being targeted in scams like the one detailed above. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Even the most experienced internet users can be fooled when a scam comes from a trusted face. Today, Facebook impersonation scams are more sophisticated and emotional than ever before. Take a moment to verify. Never send money to strangers online. And, remember, your friend may not be who he said he is. Have you or someone you know been targeted by a Facebook impersonation scam? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
